Cross' Words: Talladega (cont'd)

Reality TV

Johnny Sauter only thought ABC's NASCAR in Primetime was going to be his brush with drama. Then came word that Haas CNC had signed Scott Riggs.

But the team isn't expanding. With two cars -- Nos. 66 and 70 -- that means either Sauter or Jeff Green will be the odd man out after Homestead.

Matt Borland, the team's director of competition, will have a say in which driver keeps his ride, and both Sauter and Green are being evaluated during the remainder of the season.

So in true Pinks fashion, here's the tote board for who keeps their ride:

Six of one ...
Chase drivers with momentum heading to Charlotte:

• Jeff Gordon -- Three top-five finishes in the first month of the playoffs. Wait until he gets warmed up ...

• Clint Bowyer -- Finished 11th at 'Dega; the other three Chasers with DEI/RCR engines averaged a 35th-place finish.

• Jimmie Johnson -- He's learned a lot from Gordon, but Jeff obviously hadn't shown him all the tricks up his sleeve.

• Tony Stewart -- Even at 154 points back, you've gotta think he's among the 10 fighting for third place after Homestead.

• Kurt Busch -- Penske needs just a little more umph! in its engines; six top-10s in eight plate races for KB ain't shabby.

• Denny Hamlin -- Talladega marked his first top-five finish since Michigan on Aug. 21.

(Originally this nugget referenced "Aug. 19," but a reader pointed out: "No race occurred that day ... or the day after ... in case you forgot, for the first time in 60 plus years, two day rainout ... so the stat, as stated is impossible." 'Tis true.)

Half a dozen of the other ...
And six drivers who need a jump start:

• Carl Edwards -- I kept thinking he was biding his time. ... And then time ran out.

• Kyle Busch -- It was only a matter of time before Jeff and Jimmie put Kyle in the rearview mirror ...

• Martin Truex Jr. -- OK, so what -- Teresa sabotaged Martin's engine, too?

• Kevin Harvick -- He's completed 99.6 percent of his laps at 'Dega (2,633 of 2,644) with zero DNFs in 14 races.

• Jeff Burton -- He's the Chicago Cubs of the Chase: Wait 'til next year ...

• Matt Kenseth -- Has failed to finish on the lead lap in three consecutive races. The last time that happened: Atlanta-Phoenix-Darlington in Oct.-Nov. 2004.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.